Department of Health Begins West Nile Virus Testing
DOH Continues to Ask for the Public’s Help in Preventing the Introduction of the Disease

Honolulu (November 27, 2002) - This week the Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) began testing dead wild birds turned in by the public for West Nile virus (WNV). To date, WNV has not been detected in Hawaii, and there are no reported cases. State lab officials demonstrated the testing procedure at an informational briefing for the media today in an effort to keep Hawaii free of WNV.

"Having the capability to perform West Nile virus testing in Hawaii is critical to keeping the disease from establishing itself in the islands, as it is the most effective way to identify the presence of the disease in Hawaii," said Dr. Bruce Anderson, Director, Department of Health. "We want to encourage the public to continue their efforts to help prevent the introduction of West Nile virus by turning in wild birds found dead and controlling mosquitoes in and around their homes."

West Nile virus is primarily a wild bird disease and is transmitted by mosquitoes. However, it can cause serious and sometimes fatal disease in humans. Hawaii’s geographic isolation provides a natural barrier from this disease that is believed to be carried by migratory birds.

"Thankfully, most of Hawaii’s migratory birds come from places that remain West Nile Virus-free, making it less likely the virus will establish itself in the islands. However, we must be proactive and take all reasonable steps toward preventing the virus from being introduced here in Hawaii," Anderson said.

Because the most likely carrier of WNV is migratory and wild birds, the public is being asked to assist with dead wild bird collection efforts. Anyone finding freshly dead wild birds should safely collect the bird in a plastic bag and deliver it to the nearest Hawaii Humane Society office for testing. The following six categories of wild birds have been identified as good sentinels for surveillance. They are: House sparrows and finches; Bulbuls (red-vented and red-whiskered varieties); mynah; cardinals (Brazilian and North American varieties); owls; and hawks. While the public should avoid directly touching the dead wild bird, WNV cannot be contracted via physical contact between birds and humans. Dead wild bird drop off points have been set up across the state including the Humane Society on all islands, as well as the Division of Forestry and Wildlife/DLNR in Hilo, Kamuela and Kahului. A full list of drop off sites can be found on the WNV site at www.state.hi.us/doh/wnv, or the public can call 586-4400 for more information, or if they have questions.

In addition to dead wild bird collection and testing, other efforts in the multi-agency campaign to prevent WNV from being introduced into Hawaii include:

• DOH continues to work closely with Hawaii’s medical community to identify possible cases of West Nile virus by testing human blood samples;
• DOA imposed an immediate embargo on birds and poultry shipped to Hawaii through the US Postal Service, which went into effect on Sept. 19^th statewide;
• The Hawaii Board of Agriculture imposed additional pre-entry requirements for imported birds at its September board meeting;
• Ongoing mosquito control and surveillance programs statewide, including at all harbors and airports, focused on eliminating mosquito breeding sites;
• A public education web site has been created that features information about West Nile virus, and what the public can do to help prevent the spread of the disease.

"We are working closely with our partners from both state and federal agencies to ensure West Nile virus does not become a serious health threat in Hawaii," said Anderson. "All of the organizations involved have made preventing the introduction of West Nile virus to Hawaii a top priority."

Participating agencies include: The Hawaii Department of Agriculture, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Hawaii Humane Society, University of Hawaii, the United States Postal Service, US Geological Survey, US Fish and Wildlife Service, the US Department of Agriculture, the Honolulu Zoo, Ducks Unlimited and the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii.

West Nile virus has continued to spread across the country, affecting birds, animals and humans at a faster rate than predicted by health officials. WNV has been identified in 43 states and DC as well as several provinces in Canada, with a pattern of advancement consistent with the movement of migratory and wild birds. Humans can be infected by a mosquito that’s bitten an infected bird, but cannot pass on the disease.

In humans, the disease creates flu-like symptoms in about 20% of infected people and in less than 1% of infected people causes a severe and sometimes fatal illness known as West Nile encephalitis (an inflammation of the brain.) During 2002, there have been more than 3,600 reported cases of WNV nationally, and nearly 200 WNV-related fatalities.

Hawaii recently successfully contained and controlled an outbreak of Dengue fever, primarily through a public-private partnership effort to prevent and eliminate mosquitoes and mosquito-breeding sites. The Department of Health will continue to stress the need for ongoing mosquito control efforts in Hawaii as part of an overall effort to protect public health in the islands. For more information on the West Nile virus, visit the Department of Health web site at www.state.hi.us/doh/wnv.

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